ceasefire

noun

cease·​fire ˈsēs-ˈfi(-ə)r How to pronounce ceasefire (audio)
variants or less commonly cease-fire
plural ceasefires also cease-fires
1
: a military order to cease firing
2
: a suspension of active hostilities

Examples of ceasefire in a Sentence

the two armies declared a ceasefire for the holiday
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The glamorous event unfolded as a ceasefire tenuously holds in Gaza, following a two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas. Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025 The Houthi militants who have been attacking commercial vessels since late 2023 in response to Israel’s offensive against Hamas have not declared a ceasefire of their own. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025 As conversations continue around Gaza's reconstruction amid the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire, doctors and humanitarian workers are urging that efforts be focused on addressing the malnutrition crisis, noting that simply flooding the zone with aid won't make a meaningful dent. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2025 While the ceasefire has been in place, Gaza’s media office reports that Israeli forces have killed nearly a hundred Palestinians in Gaza. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025 Vance says Gaza ceasefire holding despite flare-ups US Vice President JD Vance said on a visit to Israel the fragile ceasefire with Hamas was holding, despite accusations by each side that the other had violated the deal. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025 Trump Sends Vance, Rubio to Israel The president this week sent Vice President JD Vance to Israel to help shore up the ceasefire and his peace plan. Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025 Throughout the war, the power plant has remained one of Putin’s most valuable sources of leverage over the Ukrainians in the halting efforts to secure a ceasefire. Simon Shuster, Time, 23 Oct. 2025 When asked about the state of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Vance said both sides are largely respecting the terms of the agreement. David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ceasefire was in 1844

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Cite this Entry

“Ceasefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceasefire. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

cease-fire

noun
ˈsēs-ˈfī(ə)r
: a temporary stopping of warfare

More from Merriam-Webster on ceasefire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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